ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
The nation's largest contract embroiderer is scheduled today to announce plans for a new factory in Henry County. Officials called the plant a welcome development after massive job cuts in recent years.
5 B's Inc. of Zanesville, Ohio, eventually could employ 500 people at its new Virginia location, which will decorate garments with thread, said company vice president Paula Moore.
Officials expect a flood of interest in the jobs, because the region's textile industry has shed hundreds of workers recently. DuPont in Henry County idled 630 in 1993, followed last year by word that its remaining 550 workers will be laid off when the plant closes in 1998. Sara Lee Corp.'s clothing division laid off 330 in a plant closing in 1996.
Henry County officials confirmed that a major economic development announcement would be made at 2 p.m., but they declined to discuss it.
"This is considered to be ... very good news for the Henry County economy and for surrounding areas," said Tom Harned, assistant to the Martinsville city manager.
"We are very much looking forward to some good news. We've had our share of bad news on the manufacturing front in the last few years," said Bill Farrer, county spokesman.
5 B's Inc., named for the five-person Biles family that owns the corporation, operates what Moore said is the nation's largest embroidery division; a contract manufacturing division; and a retail division that operates more than 50 B-Wear stores in Ohio and West Virginia.
The announcement comes as the Martinsville and Henry County region is stepping up industrial marketing and seeking an executive director for the Southern Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The 7-month-old organization - to supplement the work of the Patrick Henry Development Council - promotes the business climate in Martinsville and Danville and Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania counties. It is modeled after the Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership, Farrer said.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines KEYWORDS: JOBCHEKby CNB